This course is part of the Semiconductor Devices Specialization

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Wounjhang Park

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Part of the Master of Science in Electrical Engineering degree

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Semiconductor Devices SpecializationUniversity of Colorado Boulder

About this Course

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This course can also be taken for academic credit as ECEA 5630, part of CU Boulder’s Master of Science in Electrical Engineering degree.
This course introduces basic concepts of quantum theory of solids and presents the theory describing the carrier behaviors in semiconductors. The course balances fundamental physics with application to semiconductors and other electronic devices. 

At the end of this course learners will be able to:
1. Understand the energy band structures and their significance in electric properties of solids
2. Analyze the carrier statistics in semiconductors
3. Analyze the carrier dynamics and the resulting conduction properties of semiconductors

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Course 1 of 3 in the

Semiconductor Devices Specialization

Advanced Level

Approx. 13 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Italian, Vietnamese, German, Russian, English, Spanish

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.43/5 (49 Ratings)

Wounjhang Park

Professor

Electrical, Computer, and Energy Engineering

26,578 Learners

6 Courses

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Course 1 of 3 in the

Semiconductor Devices Specialization

Advanced Level

Approx. 13 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Italian, Vietnamese, German, Russian, English, Spanish

Offered by

University of Colorado Boulder

CU-Boulder is a dynamic community of scholars and learners on one of the most spectacular college campuses in the country. As one of 34 U.S. public institutions in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU), we have a proud tradition of academic excellence, with five Nobel laureates and more than 50 members of prestigious academic academies.

Start working towards your Master's degree

This course is part of the 100% online Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from University of Colorado Boulder. If you are admitted to the full program, your courses count towards your degree learning.

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating90%(1,003 ratings)

Week

Week 1

3 hours to complete

Quantum Theory Of Semiconductors

In this module we will introduce the course and the Semiconductor Devices specialization. In addition, we will review the following topics: Type of solids, Bravais lattices, Lattice with basis, Point defects, Dislocation, Bulk crystal growth, Epitaxy, Energy levels of atoms and molecules, Energy bands of solids, Energy bands in real space, Energy bands in reciprocal lattice, Energy band structures of metal and insulator, Definition of semiconductor, Electrons and holes, and Effective mass.

3 hours to complete

8 videos (Total 76 min), 2 readings, 2 quizzes

Week

Week 2

4 hours to complete

Carrier Statistics

In this module, we will cover carrier statistics. Topics include: Currents in semiconductors, Density of states, Fermi-Dirac probability function, Equilibrium carrier concentrations, Non-degenerate semiconductors, Intrinsic carrier concentration, Intrinsic Fermi level, Donor and acceptor impurities, Impurity energy levels, Carrier concentration in extrinsic semiconductor, and Fermi level of extrinsic semiconductors.

4 hours to complete

5 videos (Total 71 min), 2 readings, 2 quizzes

Week

Week 3

3 hours to complete

Currents in Semiconductor

This module introduces you to currents in semiconductors. Topics we will cover include: Thermal motion of carriers, Carrier motion under electric field, Drift current, Mobility and conductivity, Velocity saturation, Diffusion of carriers, General expression for currents in semiconductor, Carrier concentration and mobility, and the Van der Pauw technique.

3 hours to complete

4 videos (Total 50 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

Week

Week 4

3 hours to complete

Carrier Dynamics

In this module we explore carrier dynamics. Topics include: Electronic transitions in semiconductor, Radiative transition, Direct and indirect bandgap semiconductors, Roosbroeck-Shockley relationship, Radiative transition rate at non-equilibrium, Minority carrier lifetime, Localized states, Recombination center and trap, Shockley-Hall-Reed recombination, Surface recombination, Auger recombination, Derivation of continuity equation, Non-equilibrium carrier concentration, Quasi-Fermi level, Current and quasi-Fermi level, Non-uniform doping, and Non-uniform bandgap.

3 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 90 min), 2 readings, 2 quizzes

Reviews

4.4

54 reviews

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TOP REVIEWS FROM SEMICONDUCTOR PHYSICS

by YDApr 19, 2020

The is Grate course. The lattice part at the beginning is not all that well connected to what follows. I would enter the band structure without lattice discussion.

by SBMay 22, 2020

Very informative course and nice approach to solve problems. Well tailored course suited to under graduate engineering students

by PMJul 24, 2020

The course structure is good. But the exercises are quite hard and no lectures are based on solving such problems.

by PRJun 4, 2020

A very useful course for me to understand semiconductor physics. And systematically operated course.

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About the Semiconductor Devices Specialization

The courses in this specialization can also be taken for academic credit as ECEA 5630-5632, part of CU Boulder’s Master of Science in Electrical Engineering degree. Enroll here.

This Semiconductor Devices specialization is designed to be a deep dive into the fundamentals of the electronic devices that form the backbone of our current integrated circuits technology. You will gain valuable experience in semiconductor physics, pn junctions, metal-semiconductor contacts, bipolar junction transistors, metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) devices, and MOS field effect transistors. Specialization Learning Outcomes: *Learn fundamental mechanisms of electrical conduction in semiconductors *Understand operating principles of basic electronic devices including pn junction, metal-semiconductor contact, bipolar junction transistors and field effect transistors *Analyze and evaluate the performance of basic electronic devices *Prepare for further analysis of electronic and photonic devices based on semiconductors

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes, Coursera provides financial aid to learners who cannot afford the fee. Apply for it by clicking on the Financial Aid link beneath the "Enroll" button on the left. You'll be prompted to complete an application and will be notified if you are approved. You'll need to complete this step for each course in the Specialization, including the Capstone Project. Learn more.

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Semiconductor Physics

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